Zebra partners to care for victims of violence

When a patient comes to the emergency department as a result of human trafficking, domestic violence or sexual assault, he or she may not have personal care items needed, like toiletries and clothing, if the patient chooses to leave home and stay with friends or at a shelter.

In a recent lunch and learn presentation with more than 20 employees from Zebra Technologies, a corporate partner of Swedish Covenant Hospital, Kate Lawler, Director of the Violence Prevention Program at Swedish Covenant Hospital recalled one such instance.

According to Kate, a patient arrived in the emergency department after being injured by her partner. With Kate’s support, the patient decided to go straight from the hospital to the courthouse in order to pursue an order of protection against her abuser. However, she didn’t feel dressed appropriately to appear in front of a judge in the pajamas she wore to the emergency department.

To help patients in this situation, employees from Zebra Technologies partnered with Swedish Covenant Hospital by collecting and assembling comfort bags to give to survivors. The donated duffel bags contain sweatpants, sweatshirts, socks, underwear, toiletry kits, water bottles, notebooks and pens, and prepaid cellphones from the Verizon HopeLine program, which allow patients to communicate with family, friends, agency and shelter support staff and current or prospective employers.

“These care packages enable us to support survivors of abuse when they are most vulnerable,” said Anthony Guaccio, president and CEO of Swedish Covenant Hospital. We greatly appreciate this generous donation and the ongoing support of Zebra Technologies.”

The Violence Prevention Program was created to strengthen Swedish Covenant Hospital’s capacity to identify and respond to patients who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Since the program’s inception in 2015, more than 700 clinicians have been trained to recognize when a patient may be experiencing abuse and to respond in ways that increase safety, reduce isolation and connect survivors with ongoing support in the community.

“We very much appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the hospital to support the community,” said Randy Briley, vice president, North America Healthcare for Zebra Technologies. “Our team is committed to supporting those in need and it’s inspiring to see the passion they have to be involved and learn firsthand how these donated care packages will help support those in need when they need it most.”

To learn more about corporate partnership opportunities at Swedish Covenant Hospital, click here or contact the Foundation at 773-293-5121 or foundation@swedishcovenant.org